By: Elizabeth Angsioco
Published in Manila Standard Today
Dated November 20, 2010
Generation X and Generation Y refer to people born within specific periods. GenX, also known as the “lost generation”, refers to those born between 1966 and 1976. Born after the war, they were part of the massive rebuilding that took place. GenXers are also known to be more educated than their predecessors. They question and rebel against established norms and institutions. They are also generally cautious and practical in approaching establishing families and adulthood.
GenYers were born between 1977 and 1994. They were part of the rapid technological advancement, including the Internet. GenYers are generally sophisticated and technology-savvy, and said to spend more time online than watching television or personally socializing. They no longer have to conform with norms or trends that restricted the GenXers. They tend to be less inhibited. The gains of the GenXers’ struggles are generally seen by the GenYers as the “normal” life. We can say that Generation Y is privileged—and they feel it.
In the Philippines where massive poverty is experienced for decades, a different generation was born—the generation instant pancit canton (GenIPC). I use this not to malign any food brand but to emphasize the kind of food commonly consumed by the millions who are poor. GenIPC are those who were born into poverty. They may now be in their 20s and possibly with their own families. They include those who now use and share 3-in-1 instant coffee, salt, or a can of sardines as their main course, as well as those who try to ward off hunger through sleep!
Years back, advertisements of instant or quick-cooking meals targeted busy wives who had to divide their time between employment and running the household. That was fine because those products helped women perform multiple functions (although ideally, other family members should share responsibilities.) Also, those products were not advertised as meals per se, but as an enhancement, as additional food and as an experience of hassle-free cooking.
Instant noodles were initially part of these innovations. They were affordable, they tasted good and they were easy to prepare. We saw how this industry grew and perhaps this is largely because many families use them as their main meal. Impoverished Filipinos, numbering to the millions, is the primary market of this product. This is understandable. A pack of instant noodles costs between P6 and P13.
Instant noodles’ market is big. The National Statistics Office estimates the 2010 Philippine population to be 94.01 million. The Social Weather Stations September 2010 survey indicated that 48 percent of respondents—or around 9 million families—rated themselves poor. Considering data showing that poverty incidence is much higher among bigger families (46.55 percent for families with eight members), the number of poor individuals may reach more than 60 million!
The SWS survey also indicated that those who said they were “food poor” numbered to 7.1 million households or roughly 55 million Filipinos. This is how huge the instant pancit canton market is. This is how big the present genIPC may be.
The question begging to be asked is, are instant noodles healthy? Doctor Patricia Kho of Baby Center Philippines says, “… instant noodles is not a balanced meal. All it contains are starch, loads of salt, and monosodium glutamate (MSG)… instant noodles should not be a meal in itself because it lacks protein, vitamins, minerals, vegetables and fiber. It is also very salty and can possibly lead to hypertension if you eat this day after day.” Thus, we may now have a whole generation of Filipinos who grew up on instant noodles and who may not be as healthy as we want our citizens to be.
Besides poor nutrition, we also have to take notice of the environment within which the genIPC grew in. Because they were born into poor families, they could not afford private schools. That leaves the public education system as the only option and we all know how much this has deteriorated over the years.
Ever noticed how bad the grammar of most students is? Even those in the universities are not exempt. Many times I wince when I read documents with grammar and spelling that go to all directions. I cringe when I hear young people struggle to speak in English when obviously, they cannot. We often laugh when Ps are pronounced as Fs and vice-versa but really, this betrays the kind of mis-education our young people are getting. One time, someone asked—and this is no joke—“Ma’am fi po ba o ep?”
I have seen numerous job application forms with photocopied pictures, many misspelled words, and handwriting that will put medical doctors to shame. Where did people learn these?
This problem is not only in relation with the English language. Try asking young people to write in Filipino and you will be surprised at how badly they know our own language.
Ever wondered where social graces went? How rarely we hear people say thank you, excuse me, and may I? How decency in treating others is almost forgotten? Have you noticed how people just intrude into your personal space without warning? What do genIPCers learn?
Let us not forget that the genIPCers are also genYers. They have that feeling of being free, of being able to do what they want. Unfortunately, without a good educational system, they seem lost.
I recall saying in one interview that it is more difficult to be poor now than before. We were poor but I have memories of feasting on great-tasting food my grandmother prepared on special occasions. Meals were always home-cooked. Moreover, the standard of public school system then was quite good and enabled my generation to compete and improve the quality of our lives.
Poverty now is harsher. Being born poor (especially into a big family) means that access to nutrition, good education, and health is problematic. Unless government come in a big way, those in generation instant pancit canton, with the poor quality of their lives, cannot be considered lucky.
eangsioco@yahoo.com